Arizona State Pro Day had less attention on it this year than in 2012 when linebacker Vontaze Burfict and quarterback Brock Osweiler were trying to improve their NFL Draft stock. The Sun Devils had just three participants at the 2013 NFL Combine, and one of them was punter Josh Hubner. There were still plenty of eyes on linebacker Brandon Magee, however, who ran Friday in hopes of proving that he is faster than the 4.74 he posted in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.
Arizona State Pro Day results: Brandon Magee improves NFL Draft stock
Linebacker Brandon Magee was among those who impressed at Arizona State Pro Day on Friday. Safety Keelan Johnson and running back Cameron Marshall also boosted their respective NFL Draft stocks.
Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
Speed is perhaps the most common critique of Magee's game heading into the draft. He sat out the 2011 season after tearing his Achilles' tendon in fall camp, and though he bounced back in 2012 to lead the team with 113 tackles, he still appeared to be a step slow at times. On Friday, Magee addressed doubts by reportedly running between a 4.53 and a 4.59 in front of scouts. He also posted a 29-inch vertical:
VIDEO: Brandon Magee runs a defensive drill at Pro Day yfrog.us/j5fxurdvmvanzw…
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) March 8, 2013
The Sun Devils' third combine participant was safety Keelan Johnson, who earned first team All-Pac 12 honors after racking up 88 tackles, 11 pass breakups and five interceptions last season. He didn't improve much on his numbers from Indianapolis, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. On Friday, he ran in the 4.47 to mid-4.5 range in the 40, and hit 34.5 inches in the vertical jump. Johnson is vying for a Day 3 draft selection.
Also performing well was running back Cameron Marshall. The big back ran in the 4.5-range, and looked smooth druing receiving drills, according to Brad Denny of the SB Nation blog House of Sparky. Marshall showed off his explosiveness with a 36.5-inch vertical:
Check out Cameron Marshall running the 40 at Pro Day vine.co/v/bw7FgQqbnDV
— Sun Devil Football (@FootballASU) March 8, 2013
The fastest players on the day were wide receivers Rashad Ross and Jamal Miles, who ran 4.34 and 4.44 in the 40, respectively. Both players caught 37 passes last season, though Ross was more productive with 610 yards and six touchdowns compared to Miles' 373 yards and no touchdowns. Either could get a shot in the NFL thanks to their athleticism, though Ross appears to have the better odds of being drafted.
Unsurprisingly, right tackle Brice Schwab was apparently the strongest player on the day, putting up 29 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.
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